Combined braking, drive-clutch, and motor-starting mechanism.



J. A. TAYLOR.

COMBINED BRAKING, DRIVE CLUTCH, AND MOTOR STARTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.16.1914.

1,301,018, Patented Apr. 15,1919.

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JAMEs'A. 'rnvnon, or new YORK, N. Y.

'COMBINED BRAKING, DRIVE-CLUTCH, AND MOTOR-STARTING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Original application filed July 14, 1911, Serial No. 638,572, Divided and this application filed December 16,

1914. Serial No. 877,538.

vide; (1), a power braking device for usein road vehicles of the automob1le type ofv a new and improved form, (and usually simultaneously braking all the traction or supporting wheels of the vehicle); 4 (2) to so connect the braking mechanism with the drive-clutch that it will be thrown out of clutch upon the initial movement of the braking mechanism, a'nd'before the brake is set; and (3) to so combine such. brakeand clutch mechanism with a motor-starting mechanism (preferably of the improved form of my invention shown) in such manner that the power mechanism when moved in one direction will actuate the motor: starter, and when reversely moved will set the brakes and throw out the drive clutch. 7

To the before mentioned ends my said in vention comprises in the main and broadly, a main or motor crank-shaft; a drive-shaft; two drive-clutch members adapted to bring such shafts into and out of operative connection; a motor-starting mechanism car -ried by the main or crank-shaft, comprising a clutch-member reciprocating on and rotating with the crank-shaft, ooacting with a clutch-member revolubly mounted on the crank-shaft; means for reciprocating the reciprocating, clutch-member; means for forming a yielding contact between such clutch-members; mechanism connecting the drive-clutch and starter-clutch in such manner that when one is fully in clutch the other will be fully out; means actuated by the driver for throwing the drive-clutch out without throwing the startenclutch in; mechanism actuated upon the throwing of 'the shift-gears to neutral for automatically throwing the drive-clutch out without throwing the starter-clutch in; a braking mechanism; power mechanism controlled by the driver which when moved in one direction will actuate the motor-starter and when in the other will set the brakes; 'means for automatically returning the rotating member of the starter-clutch to the normal position upon release of the power; a like means for throwing the brakes to'release; means for locking the drive-clutch against being thrown into clutch while the starter mechanlsm is -be1ng operated; means for autothe exact construction, nor combination herein shown, either in whole, or in any of the parts thereof.

My said invention is fully shown and described in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, wherein similar letters or numerals of reference designate like or equivalent parts wherever found throughout the several views; and in which Figure 1, is a side-view partially in section,.of the combined drive-clutch, and motor-starting mechanism of the form I prefer to embody the same, showing its connection with the power, and gear neutralizing mechanism;

Fig. 2, is a top-view, on a somewhat smaller scale, of the starter mechanism shown at the right of Fig. 1, showing the actuating piston-rod, etc.,

Fig. 3, is a diagrammatic side view, partially in section of the starter-cable, drum, etracting-spring, etc., looking toward the right of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4, is a diagrammatic side-view of the four wheel braking mechanism, lide-way, etc., showing the power cylinder, pistonrod, etc; p

Fig. 5, is a top-plan view of the locking mechanism for locking the drive-clutch in the non-clutching position, upon the initial movement of the braking mechanism to brake setting; and

Fig. 6, is a top-plan view of the right side portion of the forward braking mechanism, connected with the forward vibrating teering wheels.

Referring to the drawing Therein A, indicate the fly-wheel, which is rigidly secured to the end of the motor main or crank-shaft B, (usually by a key 1) so as to rotate in unison with such shaft B. The fly-wheel, coacts'with the other and moving member C, of the drive-clutch, for forming the required connection between the main-shaft, B, and drive-shaft D, which lat. ter' is in actuating connection at its rear end.

with the master-wheel, of the speed, and

reverse-gear.- wheel mechanism (not shown).

Whileany form of clutch may be used as a drive-clutch, I prefer to use the 'one shown, consisting of the. coneE, formed integral with the rear sleeve-portion E, and keyed to the'drivershaftD, so as to reciprocate thereon, in the well known manner.: f

.The fly-wheel A, isprovided on its front face with a cylindrical chamber surrounding the c-rank-shaftB, which is closed 'by 'a .two-

- part split-plate2, :having a 1 central orifice so as to- .prevent the starter-sleeve F, from slipping outward by reason of having itsinner edges located in the peripheral retaining groove thereof, as clearly shown in Fig.

- 1; the split-plate 2, being usually secured in place by suitable screws 2.

The starter-sleeve is rotated in the motor starting direction by the starter-cable 4,

fitting in a groove on the larger periphery. of such sleeve F and. secured at the end thereto; and 1s retracted to normal posltlon by the coil-spring 7. Such sleeve F, carries on its outer face the crown-toothed ratchetwheel 6, coacting with a similar crown-v toothed ratchet-wheel 9, on the rear face. of

the reciprocating starter-clutch member orsleeve G-, to form a yielding spring ratchetclutch; the member G, being secured to the shaft B, by a set-screw 10, the endof which fits into a slot formed longitudinally of the shaft B, in such manner that the. two will rotate together, and the member G, be? ing normally forced toward its coacting member F, by. a pressure-spring12, interposed between such member and. the stopcollar 11. I

The reference. letter .11, designates, a

bracket, rigidly secured tothe main-frame of the vehicle, having journal-studs 13, in

which is reciprocatingly mounted the slide;

bar 14, having at one 'end the shift-fork 15, and at the other the like shift-fork 16, having the shiftpins or studs 17 projecting into the peripheral shift-grooves l8 and 19, in the member C, of the drive-clutch,

whereby when the starter clutch is in the drive-clutch will be out, and vice versa. That is, that while bothclutches may be thrown out at the same time, .it is made utterly impossible to throw onein without throwing the othercompletely out. And in order that the starter-clutch members may be automatically disengaged as the motor .shown) reciprocating in the fluid-pressure power cylinder J, whereby, by. manipulation'of the proper key or keys (not shown), controlling the entrance and exhaust of the compressed-air, or other actuating pressurefluid'into and out of same, such piston-rod 23, will be forced to the front. (toward theright of Figs. 2 and 4,) to actuate the starter mechanism, and toward the rear (or left) to throw the brakes to set; the piston being kept normally in the central-and neutral position, ready'to be moved in either direction, by the natural resiliency of the steel strap-brakes 24, and 25; th ough when other than strap-brakes are used a special spring device may be used for such purpose.

The starter-cable 4, passes to the. starter: clutch Vibratingmember 6, by way of the idler-pulley 26, secured upon a side extension or bracket 27, of the slide-way frame 22, and secured upon such starter-cable isa stop-collar 28, abutting against the forward.

. face of the bracket 27,.to prevent destructive excessive retractive' action when returning to the normal position, by the coil-spring], upon release from the power, and formed integ'ral'with, or secured to the slide-block or gib 21, is a shift-rod 20, abutting against the stem-rod 15, of the starter-clutch fork 15, so asto justjthrow out the drive-clutch to the rear (or left of the drawing) just far enough to also set the brakes, but with-, out bringing into clutch. the reciprocating starter-clutch member, G. p 1 Pivotedto the bracket H, by means of a shift-pins 32, projecting into the peripheral;

shift-slot 33, of E, so as to. release the drive;

clutch, when the top-fork portion, of the. shift-fork 31, is moved to the rear (or left of Fig. 1) and in order that the driver may do this in the well known manner by pressureupon the usual foot-lever .34, such lever i provided witha lower portion 34 ,bent

as shown, so as to throw back the fork 31, V

by abutment against the throw-stud 35, thereof; but this movement while suflicient to release the drive-clutch will not throwin the starter-clutch,as theconsequent movemember C, when the piston-rod 23, is moved pivot-bolt 30,:is a shift-fork 31,. having ment islimited by abutment of 34, against f the stop-stud 36. c v Y Abutting against the lowerend of the vi brating shift-fork lever 31, is the throwout rod 37, having the adjustable stop-nuts 38, screwed upon the same, by which the movement of the lever 31, may beregulated as desired; so that upon the forward movement of such throw-out rod 37, to the front (right of drawing) the drive-clutch C,will be thrown out, but the starter-clutch G, will not be thrown in; and this happens automatically every time the shift-gears (not shown) are thrown to neutral by the neutralizing, shift-gear mechanism, I whereupon such rod 37, is automatically locked inflsuch extremeforward position sofas to lock the drive-clutch in release, until such time as the throwing of any ofthe shiftgears into mesh will release the rod-locking mechanism, whereupon the drive-clutch, in the manner common to such clutches, will be thrown inward into the clutching position, and at the-same. time such inward movement of such vclutch will throw such throw-out rod 37 .to its normal position.

As shown in Fig. 4, at 24 and 25, the braking mechanism is usually and preferably of such form as to simultaneously brake all the supporting wheels of the vehicle; and this is usually accomplished by connecting the piston-rod, actuated from the power cylinder J, from any convenient fluid pressure supply, usually compressed air drawn from a supply-tank (not shown), in which the pressure is maintained by a suitable airpump actuated "by the motor, with such strap-spring brakes 24 and 25, usually through the intervention of levers 40 and 40, rigidly secured to their respective rockrods 41 and 42, so as to form a'bell-crank lever action for throwing the brakes to set, when the piston-rod 23, is thrown to the rear or left of drawing; the extent'of such throw being limited and regulated by the stop-nuts 48 and 43.

In order that the front or. steering-wheels (Figs. 4 and 6,) may have their brakes properly set irrespective of the traverse of such wheels, the vibrating brake-rod 44, is provided with an elongated slot 45, in a lever extension thereof, through which passes the end of the combined piston and brake-rod 23, carrying the stop-nuts 43, for throwing the brakes to set; whereby, while the steering-wheels are free to be vibratorily swung, in the well known manner by manipulation of the handwheel (not shown) vibrating the steering-wheel shaft 49, having the gearwheel 48, meshing with the rack-gear 47, secured to the reciprocating transverse steering-rod 46, the brake may be set at all times, irrespective of the change of wheel position.

If the starter-mechanism should be actuated when the starter clutches are out of mesh, this would be liable to wreck such mechanism, and to obviate this I prefer to provide a suitable locking mechanism; such for instance as that shown at K, (Figs. 1 and 5) which prevents the pressure fluid from being allowed to-enter the cylinder J,

on the left or starter actuating side, save when such starter clutch is in mesh. This locking mechanism maybe of many forms,

but that shown will be found efficient.

In the embodiment of my improved locklock-portion 68, formed integral'with an up per slide-pin portion 68', the too together forming a lock-pin L, which, when in the normal lower position shown in the drawing will have in the slide-way composed of the circular-lock" portion 67, and narrow sllde-slot 67, only the upper slide-pin 68, of

the lock-bolt composed of same andthe locking portion 68, so as to allow of reciprocation of the bracket K, and it's attached the'key admittingthe pressure-fluid to the starter side (left of drawing) of the cylinder J (neither key nor mechanism shown), in

such manner that upon the actuation of such key by the driver, in its initial movement, and'before the opening of the valve so as to actuate the piston-rod 23 toward the front and right of the drawing, such initial key movement will have thrown suchlock-pin up into the enlarged portion 67 of the lockslot, thus locking the starter-clutch in, save for the yield'of the spring 12; after which continued movement of the key will open the valve as the lock-pin moves farther upward, when the starter clutch will be r0- tated; and it will be seen that except when the clutch of the starter-mechanism is fully in and the drive-clutch is out can the lockpin L be forced sufliciently far upward to admit pressure-fluid to the cylinder J, so as to rotate the starter mechanism.

As neither the supporting traction-wheels, nor the brake and starter controlling mechanisms, operated and controlled by the driver of the vehicle, are necessarily of any particular form, and inasmuch as it is selfevident that some such wheels or controlling mechanisms must of necessity be used; and can be applied by any high class mechanician skilled in the art, I have not deemed it essential to fully describe, in the specification, or set forth in the drawing herein, the actual mechanism or connections, and operative parts thereof; and neither have I deemed it essential to include them as elements of the claim, inasmuch as my invention herein disclosed would of necessity have bar 14, but the lock-bolt L, is connected with to, be -in operative connection therewith, while; nothaving the same, included; therein,

but only a mom; subsidiary to the proper.

operation of such invention.

Inasmuchasfthe particular mechanisms described 'asw n'ot shown, are more specifi= cally described in the original application, or

in anot'her divisional application thereof, filed; simultaneously herewith, I have not deemed. it, essential to more fully. show or describe'thesame herein;- as the specific constructions thereof are fully setforthin such other applications, original "or divisional; and: therein specifically claimed;

I claim 1. In a Wheeled vehicle, a motor-startermiechanism; a constantly rotating motor:

shaft; a, driveeshaft a clutch for connecting the motor and drive-shafts; braking-mechanism for braking the vehicle; and power' actuated mechanism operating the'brake,'.mo tor-starter and clutch-mechanisms, whereby the initial movement thereof toward" thebraking position automatically throws out:

the, clutch connecting the motor andfldriveshafts. I I V '2. In avehicle, a;constantly rotat ngmm tor-shaft; a driveashaft; a clutch for 0011-,

nectingthe motor and drive-shafts braking mechanism power-mechanism for actuating" the braking-mechanism; andmechanlsm operated by the power means for throwing the clutch out upon theini-tlal movement-ofthe power means to actuate. the braklng mocha:

Ina device of theclass described, are, ciprocatlng-shaft; braking mechanism nor? mally in the non-braking position. thrown to setuponthe movement, of theJshafi-t inone direction ;-;a moto-nstarten actuated" uponthe movement 7 of v the reciprocating shaft in the direction opposite to its brake-setting:

movement and power means for actuating i' thershaft in:either direction.

4:. In a. device of -the class-described, a combined: motor-starting and braking mechanism. adapted t0 give an; initial starting movement tothe motor: when moved inone direction, and-to set the vehicle brakes when moved in anotherdirection and means for normally maintaining both starter i and brake mechanisms in: the neutral and: nonworking positions.

'5". In a device of? the class described;

a braking mechanism comprising a mainaxle; a knuckle-joint steering-axle vibratoril-y secured to themain-axle at either-end;

a steeringebar extending longitudinally of the maineaxle connecting the knuckle-j oint steering-axles adapted tosimultaneously via brate the sameso as to steer the vehicle; a brakefor each wheel; abrake-Vrod extending longitudinally of: the;steering bar in'actu 'ating. connection at: either: end with the brakes; amotor-starter; and: power. means 4 forsetting-thebrakesby. movement off the samein one, direction ;-and: for; actuating the;

motorsstarter, by; movement, in another direction v A Signedat the boroughof; Manhattan, city;

county and: State of New York. this 12th F Gopiesof this patent maybe obtained for'five c ents eachfbyaddressing thefl-qommi ssiqnen ot-latents', Washington, 2D,. G3 I v v 

